The role of logistics companies in promoting sustainable transport and reducing carbon emissions in supply chains

This thesis examines the role of logistics companies in advancing sustainable transport and reducing carbon emissions in supply chains. The motivation for the research is the significant environmental impact caused by logistics operations, coupled with the increasing demand for sustainable supply chain practices. The problem addressed is the lack of a comprehensive review on sustainable logistics practices, as existing literature focuses largely on isolated case studies rather than providing an overarching analysis of strategies across the sector. The aim of this thesis was to fill this gap by conducting a literature review to gain insights into the key challenges and opportunities in sustainable logistics. This topic is highly relevant given the growing pressure on logistics companies to adopt greener practices, yet there is limited comprehensive literature that synthesizes strategies and solutions available to address these environmental challenges. A systematic literature search was employed, classifying sources into different categories based on their focus on emission reduction strategies, transportation modes, and energy efficiency. The main results demonstrate the effectiveness of strategies such as investing in alternative fuel vehicles, optimizing routes through advanced algorithms, adopting cargo consolidation practices, fostering cross-industry collaboration, and implementing energy-efficient technologies in warehousing. The study concludes that although there are still obstacles to overcome, logistics companies possess considerable opportunities to reduce their environmental impact while maintaining efficiency in their operations. These findings offer valuable insights for companies seeking to enhance their environmental performance and contribute to the ongoing efforts toward sustainable supply chain management.